Small donation bags pre-filled with items most needed by food banks are to go on sale in 300 Tesco stores this summer to help food banks meet increased demand.
The donation bags, which customers can pick up as they enter the store, will contain the items most needed by foodbanks and charities, such as pasta, pulses and pasta sauce and will typically cost around £3.50.
The bags make it quick and easy for shoppers to give a helping hand to food banks and charities feeding people in their local communities this summer.
Last year, the total amount of food donated by Tesco shoppers to the Trussell Trust and FareShare was the equivalent of 12.5 million meals.
The donation bags will be available in stores from Monday July 24 until Sunday September 3, alongside every Tesco store’s permanent collection point where customers can donate long life food items all year round.
Over the summer, customers will also be able to round up their bill to the nearest pound at the checkout to make it even easier to offer financial support. This will be available from 24th July to 6th August and 28th August to 3rd September.
Tesco Head of Community Claire de Silva said: “We’re really proud of our partnerships with FareShare and the Trussell Trust and we want to continue to find ways to help them. With more people using food banks we wanted make donating as easy as possible for customers that want to support their local community. The donation bags will be available throughout the summer holidays so it allows a real focus on families and children who need support.”
Donations are more important than ever as the charities have reported an increasing need demand for food.
Polly Hoffman, Head of Retail at FareShare, said: “The need for FareShare food has been rising rapidly as a result of the cost of living crisis, and will continue to do so throughout the summer holidays when more families rely on these vital local services to feed themselves and their loved ones.
“At a time when millions of people are going hungry across the UK, the donations we receive from generous Tesco customers is absolutely vital for the charities and community groups we provide food to. That’s why we’re thrilled that Tesco is making it even easier for people to support FareShare by introducing donation bags in store this summer.”
Emma Revie, CEO at the Trussell Trust, added: “We are extremely grateful to Tesco for once again providing innovative new ways for their customers to support our network of more than 1,300 food bank centres.
“Over the last year, food banks have faced record levels of need and, while donations have increased by 18%, our network distributed 37% more emergency food parcels than in 2021/2022.
“The generosity of Tesco and its customers plays a vital role in ensuring that food banks can continue to support people who cannot afford the essentials, as we continue working towards our vision of ending the need for food banks.”
